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• Do you have a Red Eye?
  
  
• Their cry for mercy
  
  
• Eggs can do more
  
  
• New Year greetings from Baccus

Do you have a Red Eye?

The alarming increase in patients seeking admission to eye units in State hospitals is due to an outbreak of conjunctivitis. As this condition spreads so quickly and easily it is necessary to know certain facts to safeguard ourselves against this malady.

The prevalent form of conjunctivitis causing this epidemic is attributed to a virus -an adenovirus. The disease is produced by transmission of the viral particles through air onto the eye or contaminated fingers directly touching the lids or washing or bathing in an already infected water source (e.g. swimming pools ). Crowded locations, bazaars, schools and hospitals are high risk places.

The disease needs 5-10 days to manifest itself. The affected individual may complain of excessive tearing, irritation, grittiness and redness of eye, swelling of lids and sometimes pain on seeing light. Some patients may have additional symptoms of fever, inflamed throat, abdominal discomfort and nausea. Often a tender (lymph) node is felt in front of the ear on the side of the affected eye.

Involvement of the 2nd eye commonly occurs within a week.

The disease, though appears otherwise, usually takes a benign course. Most of the patients recover as their symptoms subside by 7-15 days. The recovery is due to the production of Antibodies (certain blood proteins) against the type of Adenovirus involved. Even though there are many different kinds of this virus, usually outbreaks are caused by a single type. Therefore it is rare for a person to get the disease twice during the same epidemic.

There is no effective remedy for adenoviral conjunctivitis. The disease runs its course and nothing can be done to hasten the recovery. The eye should be kept clean by wiping it with a clean wet cloth several times a day. It is always advisable to show to an ophthalmologist and follow his advice. Sometimes the virus may invade the cornea (the transparent membrane on the black part of the eye) and distort the vision. This may prolong the disease and needs special medication.

An ophthalmologist may also prescribe certain medication in order to relieve the symptoms of the patient.

Employing measures to prevent the disease from spreading to others is more important than treatment. Conjunctivitis is a very catchy disease. Those who get the disease should not share wash clothes, linen, pillow cases, sheets, eye glasses, sun glasses and other common objects with others. They should not wipe eyes on towels or hankies but on clean cloth or if possible on disposable tissues.

They also should wash their hands thoroughly, and should refrain from close physical contact during the contagious period. Family members and those treating the patient at home should be warned about contagiousness and advised to wash their hands each time after they touch the patient.

School children should be kept at home. Those who work in crowded or closed environment should abstain from attending such places where there is high chance of spreading the infection to others.

Once the symptoms start to subside most patients think that their disease is cured and resume their normal activities leaving precautions. But this is not so. It has been shown that the infective virus is present in the eyes and throat of the patient upto 10-14 days after the onset of symptoms. Therefore it is essential to practise all the said precautions until the end of this period.

DR. AHMED ABDULLAH , Centre for Sight General Hospital, Kandy.

Their cry for mercy

I have noticed on many occasions when motoring in the city and suburbs and also on outstation roads, men displaying birds, fish and other animals for sale.

This sounds harmless and ordinary, but the cruelty to the animals dawns and hurts one's heart and soul, if one cares to take a closer look and spare a thought. 1. The live fish in half filled polythene bags and tied to branches of trees on roadsides, have hardly any room to move around or change position, let alone swim. It is a disgusting sight. They are so still and stationary that, one might even pass them as oranentals.

2. The parrots and other birds are so caged, many in a cage meant for one, and exposed to the scorching sun, without a drop of water, let alone food, that it gives great pain of mind, to see their agony.

There are more instances of other animals too, being subjected to various forms of pain and torture.

It is indeed pathetic that humans have succumbed to such low inhuman levels, to earn a fast buck. These vendors, mind you, are able bodied, robust middle aged men, not disabled or helpless people, who have no other way for sustenance.

3. Poverty is a grave problem all over the world, but can a civilised society allow extremes of cruelty to animals, for people to make a living?

Cannot the Police or a relevant authority initiate some kind of action, against these barbarians. Surely, there must be a piece of legislation empowering them to prevent these disgraceful acts.

Or are we to stay deaf and blind and allow these inhumans to go further and may be even allow them to commence slaughter of animals, by roadsides, to sell meat?

A.L., Pannipitiya

Eggs can do more

My continuous effort in making the consumers understand on eggs is because; the wonderful values of an egg are misinterpreted with minor drawbacks such as cholesterol. For many years cholesterol/heart disease has overshadowed the nutritional benefits of eggs.

If one goes to compare the good values of eggs with the bad ones, the bad ones are negligible when you eat an egg a day. While dietary cholesterol is thought to be a major factor, liver produces more cholesterol than the dietary cholesterol. If at all dietary cholesterol has to be a major factor most cholesterol has to come from the saturated fatty acids and Trans fatty acids. Eggs do not contain any Trans fatty acids.

An average egg contains 5 grams of total fat out of which only 1.6 grams of saturated fatty acids. Comparing the high biological values of an egg, which contains 5.6 grams of quality protein with essential amino acids, 12 minerals inclusive of trace minerals like selenium and zinc, 11 vitamins excluding vitamins is no comparison to its so called ill effects.

While many health specialists, dieticians believe that eggs have cholestrolic effect, I strongly believe its negligible when compared to eating other high cholestrolic foods. The daily consumption of cookies, cakes, chips, whipped toppings, fried foods, margarine, snacks such as Chinese rolls, pastries, and other fast foods containing large amounts of saturated fatty acids and trance fatty acids have more cholestrolic effects compared to eating an egg a day.

After studying with more than 100,000 people over 14 years American heart society has recommended that most people can eat an egg a day. Eggs can be valuable contribution to the nutrition of both children, elders, low income families and those attempting caloric limitations for weight control.

Its time that an egg council should be formed in Sri Lanka and people should be educated on the values of eggs which are a cheapest source of quality nutrition rather than having misconceptions about eggs.

Dr. A. NANDAKUMAR. B.V.Sc, Hatton

New Year greetings from Baccus

In response to public agitations liquor advertisements were banned by the government a few years back. But this ban lasted only for a short time. Due to some influence or the other the ban was lifted and almost at the same time around 2000 new liquor shops were opened all over the country. The liquor promotion campaign that is being carried out with direct and indirect support from the State and the media is so successful that the per capita consumption of alcohol in Sri Lanka is said to be one of the highest in the world. Even inter school Big Matches are becoming drinking and brawling parties.

The latest in the liquor promotion campaign is the Sinhala/Hindu New Year greetings from liquor producers. Through the media they are wishing all Sri Lankans peace, unity and prosperity in the New Year.

How conveniently they forget the fact that what they produce is destroying all these three in millions of families in our country. Alcohol is retarding the economic growth of the country and causing social, moral and spiritual decay of its people.

When the drunken father or the husband staggers through the front door the peace and harmony in the family bolts through the backdoor. It is the women and children who have to bear the brunt of the abuse and violence of the drunk.

Under the influence of alcohol a son killing his own mother or father is no longer news.

Instances of sexually abusing one's own daughter or mother are becoming frequent. When alcohol takes over one loses respect for social norms and human decency.

Violation of women's and children's rights in the family is almost inevitable when one of its members is addicted to liquor.

This is an aspect that should receive greater attention of those involved in safeguarding women's and children's rights.

The vast majority of Sri Lankans are followers of a religion which preaches compassion and loving-kindness to all beings. Yet Sri Lanka has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Daily we hear of most gruesome murders. Whole families are being wiped out. Even children are being gang-raped and killed. Such crimes are so common that people are becoming insensitive to such crimes.

What we often fail to realize is that most of these heinous crimes are alcohol related. In many instances they commit such crimes because they are drunk and have lost self control.

In other instances they drink specifically to suppress their innate human feelings and to get "Dutch courage" to commit the crime.

Every year thousands are dying of alcohol related cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases. The country is losing so many talented artistes and professionals due to alcohol. Nearly 50% of Sri Lankans are living below the poverty line and the taxpayers have to pocket out billions annually to help them. Poverty alleviation programmes do not seem to pay sufficient attention to this aspect of poverty. Drinking habit is the main cause of indebtedness even among middle class families.

During the past few months there had been a large number of serious traffic accidents. Scores have died and hundreds have received serious injuries as a result. According to one senior police officer 90% of these accidents are due to drunken driving. The sudden increase in traffic accidents during festive seasons seems to support his theory. When petroleum fuelled vehicles are driven by alcohol fuelled drivers even pedestrians on the pavement are not safe.

When the actual situation is such we fail to understand how liquor producers could wish all Sri Lankans peace, unity and property. Perhaps what they are really wishing us is R.I.P. 

G. DHARMAWARDHANA- Kotte

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